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Which Way To Go

Well, the New Year is here. While I’m not normally one to make resolutions, this year, the time seemed right to do so. Of course, figuring out which goals should take priority isn’t always easy. But it was a heck of a lot easier than figuring out exactly what pedestrians are supposed to do when confronted with the situation pictured below!

So are pedestrians meant to be part of an obstacle course for drivers? Or must they step into an alternate dimension to cross the bridge?

The biggie for me this year is to up my physical activity and improve the diet. The last 18 months or so saw me moving backward in those areas, and the scale shows it. I did my best writing when I was more fit, and I’m sure that’s no coincidence. Physical fitness is also good for the brain. So my first goal should help me reach the second, which is to finish this manuscript I’ve been working on for too long already.

I didn’t do any actual writing in December, and I still haven’t started in January, but I’ve been running the story through my brain, especially while walking off the calories. Christmas gifts included Larry Brooks’s Story Physics and Story Engineering as well as a collection of books on writing mysteries. I’ve been going over them and thinking of plot elements and characterization. When I’m ready to put words on the page, the research and refresher courses should help me make good progress.

Of course, life wouldn’t be life without throwing a few curve balls at us, and I fully expect some detours will crop up during the year. I’m just hoping they aren’t of the serious variety. Also, my Facebook friends won’t see a lot of me in this election year because I cannot stand the diatribes, intolerance, and viciousness that characterize American politics. Sound bites and name calling are not going to solve anything. If any of you are brave enough to post about politics anywhere on the spectrum from left to right, you won’t see me commenting! I would much rather spend time with the manuscript and getting the new yard in order this spring. And hopefully getting out a few more blog posts that readers will enjoy. 😉 The next one will offer an easy way to support your favorite writers.

So while I’ve set out “the way to go” for the year, we’ll see where I’ve ended up come December 31st….

I hope 2016 is off to a good start for you. Have you set any goals for yourself? Or have you already reached the place you want to be?

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56 thoughts on “Which Way To Go”

Hi J, happy new year to you! Hope you achieve what you want to achieve this year, with your health and fitness, and your writing, and whatever else you want to achieve. I agree that the brain works better when we’re generally fit and healthy, it’s quite an instant effect too isn’t it, so we can feel the benefits quickly. I have a few general ideas of things I want to achieve this year, but as I’ve mentioned before, goal setting isn’t something that works for me, or articulating things as goals doesn’t work for me anyway. I have an aversion to the very word goal!

Happy New Year to you, too, Vanessa! Here’s a virtual toast to us looking back over the year from December 31st and thinking we’re happy with what we’ve done in 2016. 🙂 Whether it’s meeting a stated goal or having a hindsight thought of “Gee, I didn’t plan to do that but I’m glad I did” doesn’t matter!

If I ever reach the place I thought I wanted to be, I usually discover I want to be somewhere further on! That’s often in a positive way – in the course of getting to the goal I’d set, I learn new things and my perspective changes. I try to be flexible in the goals I set now because I know I’ll move the goalposts anyway!

What’s the old saying? “It’s not the destination but the journey that matters.” Or something like that. 😉 But I’ve always liked that idea. It’s nice to meet a goal or reach a destination, but I always enjoy thinking about what comes next. Not that we constantly have to visit new places or try everything under the sun! But staying curious keeps us young I think, and that changing perspective you describe helps us see the world in new ways, too. Here’s to a year of new perspectives and moving goalposts!

I hear you on the politics. Icky. I hope 2016 is good to you. I’m working on the diet as well to lose some gained pounds from Nov-Dec. Better work them off now instead of adding to them. It only gets harder the more I add. I’ve added lots of yummy pictures to my book reviews this year, but it’s my fun way of drooling over sweets without eating them…because I agree with you, physical health affects our whole being–social, mental, spiritual. If the body is feeling sluggish, the mind and spirit become slothful too.

If you need some encouragement or cheer leading on the health goals, I’m here! It’s too easy to say “Oh, just one more” or “I’m too tired for a walk today.” And then we say that again, and again…. And before we know it, the scale is showing us some unwanted numbers. 😦 I need to get back to the better habits I had a few years ago!

Here’s to enjoying time spent moving and increasing the blood flow to the brain and Muse in 2016!

My husband got the Fitbit “One” and I did the “Charge HR.” The app is very good about letting us know what we’re doing right—and not. It makes me want to do right, which of course is probably the rationale behind it. 😉

Good for you! I honestly believe better physical condition will help us on the creative side, too. If we can remember how that is a win-win situation, we should be able to stay the course. 🙂 Here’s to 2016 being a year of positive change and creativity!

Congratulations on your resolve to get more physically fit. I’ve had similar thoughts. I exercise pretty regularly, but it’s clear that I’m going to have to step it up, because I’ve become rather doughy–even for me.

I’m pretty active on Facebook, but like you, I’m worn down by the politics. As a person with a degree in political science, I’m appalled by the lack of thought that goes into the formulation of most people’s political ideas. Even people I agree with I often question the reasoning laid out in their arguments. What is really upsetting is our apparent inability to understand where the other person is coming from. Rather than try to understand why they feel as they do, we label them stupid or mean or something else. It’s frustrating, and as no one is EVER converted by something he or she reads on FB, it’s a waste of time.

The human body has this terrible habit of needing more and more maintenance to maintain good health as we get older, doesn’t it? And mine has a tendency to complain when I try to “ramp up” the exercise to help take off the pounds. We’ll see if I can get back to the good routine I had a few years ago that really helped me get back to a good weight and condition.

I had to step away from Facebook over the holidays. Too many political (and inane) posts just sapped my mental energy. I am right there with you about the inability (and unwillingness to even try) to see where another person is coming from. On the one hand, I know this is nothing new historically. After all, some members of Congress came to blows before the Civil War over issues like slavery. But on the other, I think it’s time the human race stops acting like spoiled five-year-old children and bullies on the playground. If we want our descendants to still be here in a few generations with something resembling “civilization,” we need to change our behavior and thinking. And childish name calling and base violence are not the answer.

Those cones on the pedestrian walkways are ridiculous. And yet another strike against people trying to walk and skip using their cars.

Best of luck with your resolutions. I don’t usually make them either, but this year, I really need to decrease my social media time. Easier said than done as you know. And I hear you on Facebook. The politics can get to be too much. I love a one-on-one discussion, but I don’t love seeing inflammatory things in my timeline from either party. Of course, my mother is a state rep so I can’t escape political updates completely. And, of course, I can’t block my mother 😉

Luckily, this is in a quiet residential neighborhood with plenty of sidewalks. It just strikes me as poor planning and unsafe to close off parts of both sidewalks along a road at the same time!

Both sides of my family are heavily into politics and have been for generations—and on just about every side of the political fields. And many of them love a good knock-down drag-out argument about them. But INFJ that I am, I can’t take that level of confrontation. We’re the ones that avoid conflicts if at all possible.

So I will be choosing to “see fewer posts” from some Facebook friends as the year progresses. But no—one shouldn’t block one’s mother! Luckily, mine and I are fairly close as politics go. 🙂

I’m off to a good start with 2016; lots of writing projects abound. I’m hoping to teach an adult education class come March based off of book 1 of my Writer … Uninterrupted series. I was hoping to have more reviews on the book before registration for the class starts, but that didn’t happen. A wing and a prayer, I guess!

I’m also going to turn that little blog post about the trees into a picture book and self-pub it via Create Space. I’ve never done anything like that before, and I’m always intimidated by new things, so I keep finding reasons to put it off. Stupid, I know. And, I’m on my second draft of my other MG novel — feeling good about that. So, things are hopping but very very scattered. Easy for me to lose focus when I have so many things going on.

I hear you about the political issues. Just when I thought I’d revamp my social media stuff and put more energy into them, I’m realizing I’m going to be seeing way too much of the political campaigns. Guess I’ll be doing some blocking!

Good luck to you and your writing and your gardening and exercising for 2016! You have great resolutions, solid ones that all affect each other actually. You’ll do awesome!

Wow, Kate, you have some awesome ideas to bring to fruition this year! The folks who take your course will learn so much—and take their writing to a whole new level! I know firsthand how good a coach you are. 🙂 The picture book sounds great, and I’m looking forward to seeing the final product! Then add your novels, and you will be immersed in creativity. A great place to be in my book!

Yeah, I’ve already started to hide some updates on Facebook, and I know there will be more. I’m afraid I might have to unfollow some people until the elections are over. And maybe even after that if their candidates don’t win. 😉

We’ll see how the writing goes this year. I’m still working on remembering that I need to write for enjoyment above all else!

My Fit-dog is nudging me along pretty well although it seems in the fall, I always slack off on actual exercise for some reason. The treadmill does make a difference ( even with 2+ long dog draggings…ok, we alternate who is doing the lead dragging finally…it’s mainly getting outside that’s important) I write better, and rewrite better with the treadmill.
I’ve actually formally written an opening for a piece that’s been stirring around for a bit. This year maybe a few more paragraphs this year…
Your FB and political observation paragraph says what I’m feeling, too.With social media and “news” on TV. Lots of other people agreeing. The pre-election period is too long and feeling battered as people have too much time to jump in and scream about it. Far too much emotional, too many working with incomplete facts, too much warping the facts to prove a point, too much knee jerk reactions, too much demonizing anyone who disagrees, and too much toddler style name calling. Was always taught name calling and character assassination was the sign of a weak mind who had no real factual argument. Schools need to go back to teaching persuasive techniques, methods of propaganda, and true debate….Educate the kids in civil discord – we’ll just have to wait until the current crop of adults die off or get shamed into behaving better?
So turning it off in favor of bubbling fountains, music, outdoors, with a good dose of reading and writing.
Spring will be here before you know it! (Gads, how annoying you are struggling with a non walkable area. With all the cheering about walkable pedestrian friendly communities, it’s maddening developers/cities still ignore what is needed and wanted by people. Always a fight, but one with worth it)

Dogs are a great bit of “exercise equipment” — especially active ones like Molly and the German. 😉 I don’t do well with treadmills after a bout of plantar fasciitis some years back. Outside is best for me, although I do all right with a mini-stepper in the basement. That can burn the calories and get the oxygen flowing to the brain!

I would love to change the primary setup and schedule. As you say, it’s just far too long. I’d say 2 months tops with no campaigning of any kind allowed before that. Of course, I’d also restrict how much money could be spent so that real people with normal incomes could actually be viable candidates. And outlaw personal attacks, character assassinations and the like. Now there’s a pipe dream….

At least the road in the picture doesn’t carry tons of traffic at all hours. So it’s more of an inconvenience than a serious hazard. But what kind of safety planning went into that project?!

It’s wonderful to hear that you have more writing in the works. I have the sneaking suspicion there’s even more writing of yours we would enjoy in addition to your blog!

Happy New Year J. Good luck in all your resolutions. I’ve only made one really: to cut down on sugar. I’m with you about limiting social media. I only have a blog and find that it can take up a lot of my time. I don’t know how people can post everyday! That’s so much pressure. On the other hand, I suppose, it’s no different than writing everyday on your novel! 🙂

Happy New Year to you, too, Carol! Cutting down on sugar is a great goal (and part of my plan for a healthier diet). Did you see the study that just came out linking it to breast cancer? If true, that should be good motivation for us to limit the sweets.

I used to post 3 times per week when I started blogging. Um, yeah. That was a brilliant idea. 😉 I need to focus on getting the manuscript done and polishing it. So we’ll see how everything goes!

Linking sugar to breast cancer is pretty frightening and motivating to cut down as well.
Posting 3 times a week for me is really too much.I think there comes a time when you have to decide on priorities and my experience (I tend to post once a week, sometimes less) is that you don’t lose any followers by posting less. 🙂

Those are all great goals, JM! And, your 60K for 2015 is nothing to sneeze at: that’s a LOT of progress!

I imagine it must be significantly more difficult to avoid the political back-and-forth in your part of the country; it just seems to become ingrained into every conversation and interaction down that way. Good for you for deciding to step back from social media. At least you’ll avoid that part of it.

Walking has always been a great way for me to center myself into a story, too. The exercise is just a plus. 😉 If you like to listen to music when you walk, a writing playlist can help keep the mood going for story development, as well. I walk three miles as part of my daily commute, so I’ve found I spend a lot of time thinking about story while I’m keeping pace with my walk tracker. Some of my best breakthroughs have come during a walk! 🙂

My 2016 goals are to complete the edit of my grimy sci-fi western (the spiritual sequel to last year’s book), rewrite the third act of “Finding Mister Wright,” and clamp down and start on the revision (though it will likely be more rewrite than revision) of my 2011 NaNo novel, Fearless, which has been put off for too long. I’m sure I’ll also want to write more vignettes across all my scattered universes, too, though, because I love writing “new” things.

Yes, living so close to DC tends to put politics at front and center of even the local news. Which is one reason why I can’t watch much of it. But if you can just ignore the politicians, DC is a great city to play in. 😉

For someone who has a musical background, I find I can’t listen to much of it while I’m writing, except for the occasional background classical pieces. I’m not sure why that is—it seems rather contradictory to me! Being able to walk to work would be a treat. It’s not something most people out here can do. I really do miss that from my college and graduate school days. Lucky you! 🙂

Wow, like Kate above, you have some great writing goals laid out for the year! It’s been a while since I’ve had new ideas or different characters running around in my brain. Maybe a certain someone is fighting them off until I finish this particular manuscript…. 😉

It’s good to hear from you again! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels a need this year to make, and keep, some resolutions. Mine are similar to yours, so hopefully we can use the buddy system to keep each other on track. 🙂

I’m in your corner! Normally I use my birthday to make challenges and set goals. But this year, January was the right time. And it’s nice to see some of the holiday pounds coming off already. That helps the motivation immensely. 🙂

JM, I’m so late to this. This alert got lost in my inbox. My apologies! I think everyone (myself included) is lamenting over the over-indulging during the holidays. I know one thing for certain–I have to do some kind of exercise regularly and more so for mental health than anything. I won’t be in that bodybuilding shape as in my much younger years and I’m okay with that, but those endorphins are like lifeblood to me and my brain feels better once I nudge them, know what I mean?

I’ve done some writing on my NIP (novel in progress) fairly regularly the past couple of months believe it or not. I joined a decent writing group here and they’re all talented and very good at telling one like it is and I think I’ve benefitted from it. I’d recommend The Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert if you need to be inspired. ;).

Like you, I don’t write, hint, or engage in any kind of political discussions. I can barely watch television about any of it and it saddens me that it’s always the same old thing. It’s exhausting.

Anyhoo, here’s to a bright, beautiful and bodacious 2016, my friend. I look forward to reading more of you in the coming year!

Well if you’re late to the post, I’m even later to reply! 😉 It’s been a bit busy, and this megastorm has knocked us for a loop. “Only” 35 inches of snow on Friday and Saturday!

There’s no way I’ll ever again reach the level of fitness and weight I had in my 20s, but that’s okay. What I want is to be healthy and fit for now. Even if some of the muscles and joints are protesting as we head in that direction. They will thank me later, I’m sure. 😉

I love that you’ve found a good writing group and are working on that novel. To me, your blog posts show such a clear and creative voice, and I’m sure that translates to your fiction. And I’ll have to take a look at The Big Magic for inspiration. Sometimes the craft books do a number on the creativity, and we need a pick me up.

I think, as the year goes by, I will bury myself in my current manuscript to escape from the political hell around us. I need to find as much sanity as I can to survive! 😉

Thank you, Andrea! I’m thinking our historic snowstorm will have to make its way into a future story. I need to find some positive use for 35 inches of snow in a 24-hour period. 🙂 The year is off to an eventful start!

Hi JM, Happy New Year to you! Well as you know I’ve been on quite a break from writing, but that’s okay. I’m not going to get down on myself or beat myself up about. It’s my typical pattern, except this time the focus and discipline on writing was much longer and the break in between wasn’t a complete hiatus. I worked on my WIP and Part I is done (has been since about Nov then I took another break). The breaks aren’t intentional, it’s more allowing myself to get distracted and not prioritizing my writing or being disciplined.

But inspiration hit and now all I want to do is be with my words and my pen and journal and my story. Funny how that happens!

I have to agree with you on two points: I exercise more when I write … I write when I exercise more. It’s like the discipline for one goes hand in hand with the other. The other point is about New Year’s resolutions … I don’t usually make them either but as I wrote in my journal yesterday and today my main focus is to get through editing Parts II & III of my story, got get my POV straightened out 😉 among other things. And then I hope to ship the whole story off to betas for a full read. (If I can find any interested takers). What happens after that, I don’t know yet. I’m not committing that far in advanced, but if I can get focused and disciplined on this draft of my WIP and send it off, I will be happy with myself!

I’m wishing you luck with your exercise regimen and your writing, of course. Hope to be visiting your blog as well as a few others more often as well. 🙂

You know you have one interested reader right here, Arlene. 🙂 Even if she is a bit overwhelmed by 35 inches of snow in a 24-hour period!

There is so much writing advice out there regarding how often we should write, how we should force ourselves to write, how it’s okay not to write…. Well, I think it comes down to what works for each of us as individuals. After all, someone hoping to make a career as a writer will probably need more rigorous scheduling than someone like me, who would simply like to share some good stories down the line. I’m finally beginning to understand that it’s okay for me to take longer breaks than more professionally driven writers.

Physical exercise is simply good for us. We all know it, but our culture makes it difficult to put into practice—and also easy to avoid. But we feel so much better mentally as well as physically when we regularly get our butts off the couch or out of the chair. Somehow, we have to modify the “butt in chair” advice for writers! 🙂

Good resolutions to have and shared by many I would think. I know I need to move around more and less this year. Tried a suit on today and I swear I could hear the buttons screaming to be released before they had a serious accident!

I think clothes are a better judge of our shape than the scale. 😉 When they feel tight, I get cranky. So I’m working on getting them to loosen up again. And if I need to buy a smaller size, I’ll be very happy! But moving more and sitting less is good. Especially when we get past the sore muscles and realize how much more energetic both body and brain feel!

JM, that thinking time is critical. I hadn’t touched a manuscript in 1.5 years. I had a bunch of agent feedback from 2014 and a critique partner’s notes from 2015. I had let the agent notes roll around in my head on and off. Then in December, I had time to get to my crit partner’s notes and it all clicked at hyper speed. Because I had all that thinking time to realize there was something not working and to be open to agent suggestions and my crit partner’s feedback. I couldn’t have made these changes any sooner. I wasn’t in a mental place to process them and implement them. So all this thinking time is awesome. 🙂 That’s my long winded way of saying that.

It’s finally sinking in with me that so much of “writing time” isn’t spent actually writing! There’s spending time learning about the craft, mulling over possible ideas and characters, rethinking what we’ve written, reading other writers for enjoyment and education, processing critiques…. The list goes on, right? And yet all of that goes into the final version of the work. Without the “nonwriting” part of writing, we wouldn’t be good writers. It’s a lot like the old proverb, “There is a time to….”

As always, I’m amazed at what you’re able to do, but I’m also learning to accept that we’re on different paths to different goals. So it’s okay if I don’t match you step for step! 🙂

You’ll have to let me know if anyone is arrogant enough to say they’ve already gotten to where they want to be. Fools. 🙂
I too spend a ton of time just thinking about my writing and where it’s going and what’s happening next because I don’t get a chance to write it down right away. Often, it’s much later that I really get to get to it, sadly. But I hope I don’t forget anything.
Just the other night while lying in bed I thought, “And when they get back, the car will be gone!” Of course, I won’t get to that scene for several chapters still, but it was a worthy thought, which I won’t soon forget. 🙂
I also hate election time. I won’t bother reading any political stuff. 1. I don’t care, and 2. You’re right. Like any of those things people write about their favorite candidates or against their least favorite candidates, no matter how glowing or inflammatory, is going to change anyone’s mind. Waste of time for what little amusement it brings them.

Ah well, no one has been so arrogant! Not surprising because I think I have a pretty darn realistic and down to earth blog following. 😉

There’s a lot of “thinking about writing” that goes into writing, which non-writers probably don’t realize. In fact, I’ll bet a lot of newer writers haven’t figured that out yet. I know it took me a while. Like you, though, I hope I don’t forget too much from that stage. It’s probably good that ideas don’t come to me in bed because I almost certainly would forget them before morning!

As the year goes on, I hope to be spending a lot more time immersed in a manuscript than being anywhere near the news coverage!

Sometimes I feel guilty for going to dance class, or yoga, instead of writing, but you’re so right – my writing is better when I feel good in my body. Best of luck to you in your year of writing. I know what you’re talking about re FB – I will not read anything that deals with politics in there. Facebook is supposed to be a fun social way to say hi to each other, not put down each other’s beliefs! Cheers!

There is definitely a real link between physical and mental health. My overall outlook is so much better and more energetic when I’m exercising regularly and at a high-enough intensity. It’s easier to concentrate, and both the creative and logical sides of my brain work better. It’s really such a win-win situation, I could kick myself for backsliding on the intensity the last few years. Hopefully I remember this lesson for the long haul!

I really wish there was a “stripped down” version of Facebook. No games. No links to articles. Just a place to say hi and keep in touch with family and friends. That would be perfect for me!

I’ve had a lot of exercise lately – dodging those curve-balls! I’m sure the day must come when my life settles into something a little less crazy. Until then I’ll just have to keep ducking 😉 I don’t blame you for avoiding the election on FB. I’m not even a US citizen and I get hammered with silly jibes about how awful/wonderful people are that I don’t even know (or care about). Have a wonderful 2016 xxx

On a good day, I’m embarrassed about how the American political process looks to the rest of the world. On a bad day, I’m horrified. I simply don’t understand why people think it’s acceptable for adults to act like spoiled 5-year-old brats on the school playground. I’m hoping to be far more immersed in writing this year than watching any of the political garbage on TV or reading it on Facebook pages!

Politics aside, let’s hope for a 2016 that sees far more good than bad in the world and a wealth of creativity!

Getting fit is one of my goals for 2016 as well. Great minds ;D I’ve only recently been writing goals and must admit it has helped me keep focussed. You do need to revisit and revise them but as you mentioned, sometimes life happens and you need to adjust for those times.
Have a great 2016, JM.

Getting fit is mine and Mathair’s personal goals while starting up our new series at the close of our first series is our professional goal. We hope to reach it this year and close out another chapter for Inion N. Mathair and look a little better while doing it. hahaha Good luck to you and your goals this year, J. We know you got this. 😉

I’ll be happier when I can walk outside again instead of the basement, but this 35-inch snow storm probably won’t let that happen for a while! Shoveling is good exercise as long as we don’t overdo it. 🙂 I just can’t figure out when my husband and I moved away from Maryland and into Buffalo!

Best wishes for the new series and getting fit. I know my writing benefits from that physical activity!

I missed posting on your last blog because I got so far behind in my blog reading. Other than your temporary life as an Eskimo, how do you like your new place? I was just in your neck of the woods at the beginning of the year. Luckily, I returned home before the big snow!

I haven’t been blogging much as I have had too many other things going on. Hopefully, I’ll be able to increase my presence in the nearby future.

We’re really enjoying the new place—especially now that most of the snow has melted. 🙂 Of course, we’ll see what happens overnight and into tomorrow! I’m really hoping this is more a Snowquester than Snowzilla event. Now, if I can just get a doctor to figure out what’s bothering my right hip and fix it, I might be able to concentrate on writing again…. And maybe get a few more blog posts written. 😉

I’m sorry to hear you are having problems with your hips. Last year I had problems with my shoulder…for most of the year. It was finally determined I had some calcium deposits which would eventually erode away. After reading the recovery time of shoulder surgery, even arthroscopic – a non surgical diagnosis was welcome. I hope yours has some resolution soon.

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On Adverbs

Adverbs are my place holders as ideas rush out and my fingers can’t keep up with them on the keyboard. Later, when I’m editing, they remind me what I was thinking. “He reached clumsily for his keys” can be revised to “He fumbled for his keys.” Or, “She said gently” reminds me to make sure her dialogue makes that feeling clear.